Pre-Bloodstock interview: City of Thieves

Due to the huge number of bands playing at Bloodstock this year, and the fact that our two roving reporters will actually want to watch some of them, we’re doing a little round of pre-festival interviews this year. We’re focussing on the bands playing the Jagermeister and Hobgoblin New Blood Stages so they get a chance to convince you to go and watch them. Remember, these guys and gals are the future of our musical world!

Simple things first – where are you guys from?

London.

How did you meet?

We found each other through a love of rock music and beer

How long have you been playing together as a band?

We haven’t always been City Of Thieves…. City Of Thieves was created by playing every dirty rock bar between London and Prague over the past 8 years as a different band. Then we got picked up by Strangeworld Management, had a few personnel changes, wrote a new album (from which a debut EP was selected) and came out the other side of it all as City Of Thieves.

Where does the name of the band come from?

It is where we come from.

What are your influences – individually or as a band?

We write what comes naturally. Will the drummer is massively into Volbeat and Clutch, Jamie (Vox) always has a copy of Never Mind The Bollox in his car and also admires the talents of Steve Tyler and Axl.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

There’re a lot pretenders out there and it’s easier than ever for anyone to put a rough product together and slash it about on social media… However we’re for real and you can hear that musically and lyrically whether you see us live or listen to the record!

What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?

We play loud and sweat a lot… we’re all about groove, drinking beer and making people throw their hips and beards around!!! As City Of Thieves it is early days, catch us at this years Bloodstock, Planet Rock Stock, Legends Of Rock Originals and a small tour is being put together for October!

When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?

The organisers kindly extended the offer for us to play – for which we are truly grateful.

What sort of setlist can we expect?

The EP plus some other very high energy material and meaty riffs.

Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with / are glad you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?

We’re so focused on our performance, it’s a huge opportunity for us to be invited to Bloodstock! There are many people getting in touch who are going to spend some of their valuable festival time to see us and we will give them every ounce of riffage ear smashing we can muster!! Once our work is done we’ll be getting down the front rest assured!

What are you working on at the moment?

Live shows of different lengths 30/45/1-hour sets… Always writing songs as well, it’s what we do!

What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?

It’s going to be a long long road! you better be for real, you better really want it!